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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179168
Title: THE LANGUAGE OF RANGELAND SCIENCE

Author
item Grings, Elaine

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2005
Publication Date: 4/1/2006
Citation: Grings, E.E. 2006. The language of rangeland science. Rangelands 28(2):36-37

Interpretive Summary: Effective writing requires a craftsmanship that is both learned and practiced. Communicating the science involved in rangeland management to diverse audiences is important for successful adoption of land management practices, for effective decision-making by land management agencies and lawmakers, and for general public awareness. It is important that we develop the basic skills of written communication that are relevant whether authoring extension bulletins, news releases, or personal essays. Some will always be better writers than others, but the basics of written communication are learnable. One of the objectives in communicating science is to help readers understand why ecology or management is important to them. It is important that as writers we keep their interests in mind, find a way to relate to their world, and understand that we don’t all share the same vocabulary.

Technical Abstract: Effective writing requires a craftsmanship that is both learned and practiced. Communicating the science involved in rangeland management to diverse audiences is important for successful adoption of land management practices, for effective decision-making by land management agencies and lawmakers, and for general public awareness. It is important that we develop the basic skills of written communication that are relevant whether authoring extension bulletins, news releases, or personal essays. Some will always be better writers than others, but the basics of written communication are learnable. One of the objectives in communicating science is to help readers understand why ecology or management is important to them. It is important that as writers we keep their interests in mind, find a way to relate to their world, and understand that we don’t all share the same vocabulary.